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We are delighted to welcome the Great Tapestry of Scotland to Stirling Castle as part of its national tour. It is officially the largest embroidered tapestry in the world and tells the story of Scotland’s history.

A spectacular celebration marking the Treaty of Perpetual Peace

Tickets are now available for Historic Scotland’s biggest-ever event, especially designed to mark the Year of Homecoming, which is part-funded by EventScotland.

To celebrate the 2009 Year of Homecoming, Party at the Palace 1503 will see two days of colourful pageantry on 23 and 24 May.

The event will feature more than 120 costumed performers from across the UK to celebrate the marriage of King James IV of Scotland to Margaret Tudor of England – the sister of Henry VIII in 1503. The two kingdoms were also celebrating the sealing of a Treaty of Perpetual Peace. This stated that there should “be a true, sincere, whole and unbroken peace, friendship, league and amity … from this day forth in all times to come” between the two nations.

The event will start with a horseback parade along the main street of Linlithgow, assembling for a procession down into the magnificent backdrop of Linlithgow Palace, loch and Peel.

There will also be a large and lively medieval encampment. This will be filled with supporters of the Douglas, Hamilton, Lindsay and Campbell families who were among the most powerful in the land. There will also be costumed performers and entertainers.

Dramatic jousting will take place on the Peel, coupled with the flash of sword fighting. In the palace Renaissance music and dancing will fill the air and swirl through the royal rooms.

Court jesters will be on hand to offer whispering words of comedy and perhaps even wisdom. Elsewhere in the grounds, alchemists will try to turn metal into gold. And swooping way up high will be birds of prey, called upon by the falconer.

Peter Bromley, Director of Properties in Care, Historic Scotland, said: “This is truly one of the signature Homecoming events for 2009. Sure to be fantastically entertaining and spectacularly colourful, it also represents a key moment of Scotland’s history. With so many of the famous families of the time ‘present’, it will be a really wonderful insight into Scotland past.

“Historic Scotland are known for staging inspirational events, but this one really steps up the game, with over 120 costumed performers travelling from all over the United Kingdom. With Linlithgow Palace being accessible from north, south, east and west, I am looking forward to joining everyone for this celebration event on the day.”

Marie Christie, Project Director for Homecoming Scotland, said, “This is a big year for Scotland when we look forward to welcoming back many of the millions of people around the world with Scots ancestry or affinity. Party at the Palace is one of key events in the programme of Homecoming celebrations running throughout the year and we are delighted to be working in partnership with Historic Scotland”

Tickets are available on-line now with a 10% discount at www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/shop they can also be bought on the day and are priced at: Adults £12.00, Concessions £9.50, Child £6.00. Family tickets are also available.

Historic Scotland is supporting the 2009 Year of Homecoming through a variety of events throughout the year. These include family trails at our properties and the launch of a specially-written book, Clan and Castle. The agency is also supporting the organisers of The Gathering, which is one the biggest historical clan gatherings in history taking place at Holyrood Park on 25 and 26 July.

Notes to Editors

Pictures relating to Party at the Palace along with historical portraits of King James IV of Scotland and Margaret Tudor of England are available. Extracts of a translation of the Treaty of Perpetual Peace and a photograph of the Treaty is also available. Please call the Marketing and Media Department at Historic Scotland to arrange.

The spectacular two-day event takes place on 23 and 24 May Linlithgow Palace is off the M9.

The magnificent ruins of Linlithgow Palace are set in a park beside a loch. Most of the Stewart kings lived at the Palace. Numerous renovations to the palace’s grand facades and chambers were carried out as each sought to create the ideal modern palace.

Historic Scotland has 345 outstanding historic properties and sites in its care. These include some of the leading tourism attractions in the country, including Edinburgh, Stirling, and Urquhart Castles , Fort George, Linlithgow Palace, the Border Abbeys, and Skara Brae.

Historic Scotland is delighted to be supporting the 2009 Year of Homecoming with a series of initiatives including family trails, spectacular events and the creation of a Homecoming Pass for heritage attractions in association with other heritage organisations. www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/homecoming

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